diff --git a/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d.py b/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d.py
index 8e2460da..0aa08979 100644
--- a/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d.py
+++ b/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d.py
@@ -26,11 +26,24 @@ def skeletonize_3d(img):
     --------
     skeletonize, medial_axis
 
+    Notes
+    -----
+    The method of [Lee94]_ uses an octree data structure to examine a 3x3x3
+    neighborhood of a pixel. The algorithm proceeds by iteratively sweeping
+    over the image, and removing pixels at each iteration until the image
+    stops changing. Each iteration consists of two steps: first, a list of
+    candidates for removal is assembled; then pixels from this list are
+    rechecked sequentially, to better preserve connectivity of the image.
+
+    The algorithm this function implements is different from the algorithms
+    used by either `skeletonize` or `medial_axis`, thus for 2D images the
+    results produced by this function are generally different.
+
     References
     ----------
-    .. [Lee94] Lee et al, Building skeleton models via 3-D medial surface/axis
-           thinning algorithms. Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing,
-           56(6):462-478, 1994.
+    .. [Lee94] T.-C. Lee, R.L. Kashyap and C.-N. Chu, Building skeleton models
+           via 3-D medial surface/axis thinning algorithms.
+           Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing, 56(6):462-478, 1994.
 
     """
     # make sure the image is 3D or 2D (if it is, temporarily upcast to 3D)
diff --git a/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d_cy.pyx.in b/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d_cy.pyx.in
index 92705d38..5926e10a 100644
--- a/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d_cy.pyx.in
+++ b/skimage/morphology/_skeletonize_3d_cy.pyx.in
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ Porting to Cython was done by Evgeni Burovski (evgeny.burovskiy@gmail.com).
 References
 ----------
 
-.. [Lee94] Lee et al, Building skeleton models via 3-D medial surface/axis
-           thinning algorithms. Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing,
-           56(6):462-478, 1994
+.. [Lee94] T.-C. Lee, R.L. Kashyap and C.-N. Chu, Building skeleton models
+       via 3-D medial surface/axis thinning algorithms.
+       Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing, 56(6):462-478, 1994.
+
 
 .. [IAC15] Ignacio Arganda-Carreras, 2015. Skeletonize3D plugin for ImageJ(C).
            http://fiji.sc/Skeletonize3D